Issue link: https://beautysense.associatedhairprofessionals.com/i/1060208
associatedhairprofessionals.com 7 Today, we are going to highlight (pun completely intended) the uber-popular hair-coloring technique called balayage. Many celebrities, such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Mila Kunis, Jessica Biel, and Drew Barrymore, have been seen out and about with this great look that creates the impression of natural sun-kissed highlights. Balayage means "to sweep" in French. The technique was originally developed in Paris in the '70s and was known as balayage a coton due to the strips of cotton used to separate the colored hair from the untouched strands. It was considered a very innovative technique—at that time, the industry standard for highlighting was using a frosting cap (nooooo, not the cap again!). However, the '80s saw foiling as the new highlighting practice, so balayage didn't really take off in the United States until the '90s, when it was made popular by trendsetting celebrities. Many salons today offer balayage, but be forewarned, your colorist must be well trained and really understand the movement and texture of your hair in order to make strategic placement to attain natural-looking results. The Process The balayage process is when color is hand-swept onto the hair using a paddle or brush. The sweeping motion applies the lightener, going from thinner sections at the root to thicker sections as your colorist proceeds toward the ends. This technique results in a unique look and can be either very subtle or very dramatic—and anything in between. Your colorist has more freedom to place the color as she pleases, rather than the standard, more precise results from using foils. Because the color is more easily and precisely applied, the grow-out process may appear more blended and natural than with foiling or other highlight methods. For the same reason, root touch-ups can be spaced farther apart without harsh lines of demarcation. Who Should Get Balayage? Balayage is not just for blondes. It looks stunning for all hair colors. It also works wonders on coloring grays, due to the ability to select specific gray hairs to apply color to, rather than coloring all hairs with one shade. Brunettes, redheads, and even those with black hair can all take advantage of adding dimension. The results will be subtle, yet can create lovely swirls of deep cinnamon, warm chocolate, or lighter chestnut. Balayage vs. Foiling If any of the following ring true to you, you may be a good candidate for balayage. • You have always been previously foiled and have gone too blonde and want easier maintenance. • You have very short hair that has ended up with unwanted stripes of bleached hair. Balayage can correct this situation and will have the most natural results. • You keep ending up with the halo effect at the hair line, and it is only a couple of weeks since your most recent foiling. At times, it can be difficult to get to the finer hairs at the hair line with traditional foiling and your color-ista may need to implement some hair painting, at least in the hairline area. • And, of course, there are those of you who have played it safe and have always done all-over color and are ready for a change. Balayage is a great option for you to punch the edges of your personal beauty envelope! ■